Current as of: July 3, 2025 - 19:32
Snowshoeing in the Dolomites - Premium Adventure Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Premium Adventures
- Destination: Italy
- Programmes: Winter
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Activity Level:
3 out of 7 - Moderate
- 8 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: CIS
- Carbon Footprint: 18kg CO2e
Trip Overview
Discover the most impressive mountain range in Italy
The Alta Pusteria valley, on the northern edge of the Dolomites, is an ideal destination for a winter hiking adventure with routes leading into Fanes-Sennes Natural Park, along the shoreline of Lago di Braies and beneath the jagged peaks of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Wearing snowshoes or hiking books, we tackle forest trails and old military tracks to the magnificent viewpoints of Durrakopf and Strudelkopf, learning more about the impact of the First World War here along the way. Our base is the four-star Hotel Adler in the centre of Villabassa, the perfect place to unwind with Michelin-approved cuisine and a wellness centre.
At a Glance
- Accommodation: 7 Premium nights (Hotel Adler)
- Five days of guided snowshoeing
- Group normally 5 to 14, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Highlights
- Walk through the spectacular scenery of the Dolomites
- Explore areas only accessible by snowshoes
- Relax in a four-star hotel with wellness centre
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Activities: To tackle the trials, we either snowshoe or hike, depending on the weather and terrain. The tour leader always chooses the most suitable option. For fresh snow, we use snowshoes. If the terrain has icy patches or flattened snow, we use ice spikes/cleats (which are provided) over hiking boots. If there is no snow, we just wear hiking boots.
Hike durations: Expect to spend five to six hours in the mountains each day. No snowshoeing experience is necessary, but good health and fitness are important, as hiking in snow can be more tiring than summer walking. Some hiking at higher altitude and occasional longer/harder days may be involved.
Climate: Certain hikes are dependent on weather conditions and alternative routes may be chosen as necessary. The overriding priority on the trip is group safety and conditions are assessed daily by the tour leader. A route is chosen based on current conditions and the forecast for that day. Our tour leaders are required not to proceed with any proposed route (including those mentioned in the brochure or Trip Notes) if they believe the risk to be unacceptable.
Snowshoes: Snowshoes are adaptable to fit most hiking boot sizes; however, if you wear larger than UK size 12 boots (US13 or EU47) please let us know at the time of booking. We can then confirm if we can provide suitable snowshoes for you.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 5
Max group size: 14
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Villabassa
- End City: Villabassa
Land Only Itinerary
Fly to Innsbruck; transfer to Villabassa
Fly to Innsbruck; transfer to Villabassa (approximately 1hr 45min).
Start Villabassa
The adventure begins at Hotel Adler, our excellent base in Villabassa (approximately 1hr 45min from Innsbruck airport). Get to know your guide and travel companions over a welcome dinner this evening.
Three guided snowshoe walks
We walk wonderful routes in the Fanes-Sennes Natural Park, along the shoreline of Lago di Braies and beneath the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, arguably the most iconic image in the Dolomites.
Free day
Enjoy a day at leisure to relax at the hotel and enjoy the spa facilities or try downhill or cross-country skiing.
Our final two snowshoe walks
Forest trails and old military tracks take us to the magnificent viewpoints of Durrakopf (7,475ft/2,275m) and Strudelkopf (7,568ft/2,307m). Lunch stops at picturesque refuges give us the chance to absorb fascinating history from the First World War. On Day 6, the hotel restaurant will delight your palate with an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner.
Transfer to Innsbruck; fly to London
The adventure comes to an end after breakfast. We say goodbye to Hotel Adler, which may feel like a second home by now, before starting our return journey home.
End Villabassa
The adventure comes to an end after breakfast. We say goodbye to Hotel Adler, which may feel like a second home by now, before starting our return journey home.
Accommodation
Hotel Adler, a four-star property in Villabassa
Considered the best in town, this four-star retreat has a privileged address on the village square. Rooms are traditional yet stylish and come with Hästens beds, each of which is created with natural materials.
The hotel itself is run by the Pircher family but began life as the home of nobleman Stefan von Kurz zum Thurn more than 400 years ago. You can see plenty of that heritage throughout the property.
The hub of social living will likely be the bar and fireplace room, where you can sip an aperitivo or perhaps a post-dinner gin and tonic, while enjoying the relaxed hubbub with the group (a local crowd often gathers here too). There’s also a good-sized pool for morning dips and a wellness centre with a sauna, steam room, solarium and small fitness centre.
Room upgrades
For even more comfort, Hotel Adler offers room upgrades for a special price, exclusive to Exodus travellers. There are various room types from which you can choose. Please speak to your sales representative for more details.
Worth knowing
- There are a limited number of double rooms for single use available for a supplement.
- The accommodation shown has been booked and agreed in advance; however, we may need to make changes to a property of similar or higher standard after you have booked. We endeavour to inform you of any changes in advance; this could, on rare occasions, be at late notice.
- The Hotel Adler does not cater for vegans
Single supplement from £ 350
Food & Drink
Seven breakfasts, five lunches and six dinners are included, one of which will be an authentic Tyrolean gourmet dinner
Dinners are usually taken in the hotel restaurant, where we enjoy a lovely set menu. Please note, the meal on the evening of Day 1 may be a cold buffet instead of a hot meal.
Dinner is not included on the free day, which may be an excellent opportunity to try the à la carte menu on offer at the hotel or a local pizzeria recommended by your leader. Vegetarians are catered for; however, as this area is renowned for its meats, please be aware there may not be as much variety.
Five pack lunches are provided by the hotel. Each morning there is a buffet with items to make your own lunch (eg cured meat/ham, cheeses, boiled eggs, tomato, cakes, fruit etc). To reduce the use of plastic and single-use items, the hotel provides reusable cutlery and a paper bag, though we recommend bringing a reusable container.
Transport
Most tours will operate with a combination of local buses and taxis to reach the walks. Certain dates may involve shared airport transfers with other tours in the area.
Weather & Seasonality
Throughout the Dolomites, winter can bring extended periods of fine, settled weather. From Christmas through to the end of February, average daytime temperatures range between -10C and 4C (14F and 39F) in the shade. These temperatures can feel surprisingly comfortable, largely because the air is very dry, and you will often be on the move. In periods of unsettled weather, the daytime temperature will rise to freezing point or higher, but it will feel much colder as the air carries much more moisture at these times. It can occasionally get windy, and the resulting wind chill can be significant.
Joining Instructions
Start hotel: Hotel Adler, Von Kurz Platz 3, 39039 Villabassa Italy
Phone: +39 0474 745128
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Innsbruck Airport (INN)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 1hr 45min drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to the airport for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Villabassa
Location end: Villabassa
What To Take
Essential Equipment
Essential Equipment
- Walking boots: three- or three/four-season waterproof walking boots with semi-rigid soles, and good ankle support
- Medium-sized daypack (approximately 30 litres): expect to carry your snowshoes on the outside of your pack on occasions – packs with a lid or adjustable side straps are well suited for this
Outdoor/winter clothing as follows:
- Good quality waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers (pants) and gaiters
- Warm thermal underwear/baselayer
- Warm fleece
- Warm hat and gloves
- T-shirts, lightweight trousers (pants) and light fleeces for unseasonably warm days
- Large water bottle and/or flask
- Sunglasses, high-factor sunscreen and lip protection
- Comfortable shoes for the evenings
- Blister kit (some people find they are more prone to blisters with snowshoes)
- Sit mat (or small square of Karrimat) for taking lunches in the snow
- Tupperware-style container for lunches
Equipment provided
Snowshoes, ice spikes/cleats and walking poles. If you have a UK shoe size of 12 or over (US13 or EU47), please inform us at the time of booking so we can ensure we have snowshoes of the right size available for you.
Optional Equipment
- Swimwear (for indoor pool/sauna)
Reading List
Maps
Recommended map for this area is Kompass Sheet 57 in Wanderkarte series – Bruneck-Toblach (Brunico-Dobbiaco) 1:50,000.
Practical Information
Visa
Italy
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Italy. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Italy.html
Please note: it is compulsory to carry ID with you at all times in Italy.
Vaccinations and Health
Italy
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.
If you’re a UK citizen, please note that your UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are still valid and offer the same cover as the Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) in the EU. This gives you medical care at a reduced cost, and in some cases for free, in many European countries, but should not be considered a substitute for adequate insurance. Once your EHIC has expired, replace it with a GHIC.
Local Time
Italy's time zone: Europe/Rome (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
Italy's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins, European standard), F (two round pins), and L (three round pins in a row) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Italy's currency: Euros (EUR)
ATM Availability
Villabassa is a small village with limited facilities, but there is a well-stocked supermarket, tourist office and post office, all next to our hotel. A 24-hour cash machine is available, but not always working.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
For meals not included, allow €15‐€20 per lunch and €20‐€30 per dinner for restaurant meals. Of course, as you are free to choose where to eat, you can choose to spend as much as you like.
Local taxes: Many Italian cities have introduced a tourist tax for non‐residents. The local administration oversees the tax, which will be collected by the accommodation provider at check‐in or check‐out. This fee varies depending on the hotel category, the season and number of days of stay. It is usually €3.50 per person per night.
Optional excursions
There are several extra excursions available, exact prices and details will be confirmed locally.
The following can be used as a guide:
- Messner Mountain Museum Ripa Brunico: €8 per person
- Cheese factory in Dobbiaco: €3.50 admission only, €6.50 including a small cheese tasting, €8.50 including a large cheese tasting.
From Villabassa there are regular trains and buses to the different villages of the Pusteria valleys
- Day trip to Ötzi the Ice Man in Bolzano: allow approximately €35 for travel and €10 for entry (train journey involves changes and takes approximately two hours)
Many ski areas are easily accessible from Villabassa, including Plan de Corones and Cortina d’Ampezzo, each offering a wide selection of alpine skiing possibilities. Only a 15‐minute bus journey away, San Candido and Versciaco have 33mi (53km) of downhill slopes for all skiing levels. Alpine skis can be hired in Dobbiaco for approximately €25 per day. For more information about the alpine skiing in this area, visit www.dolomitisuperski.com. Although we give information on the alpine skiing in our winter resorts, our leaders are not alpine instructors and may only be able to give limited advice about the facilities/conditions. All prices for optional activities are approximate and subject to change. Ask your leader for advice.
Tipping
Tipping for any local support staff is included on this trip, and will normally be taken care of by your tour leader.
Our ‘included tips’ will normally cover drivers, local specialist guides, certain hotel staff, and serving staff for included meals. Amounts will be in line with the local standard. Of course, if you wish to make a further tip for some extra special service you may do so.
Tips for the Tour Leader are not included. Whether to tip at all and the amount is entirely at your own discretion, but as a starting point we suggest around €20-€25 per person for the duration of the trip.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.